UPDATE: Drew Gordon to transfer

UPDATE: The LA Times is reporting that the decision by Gordon to transfer was precipitated by Ben Howland's decision to suspend Gordon from practice for two days.


The hits keep on coming for UCLA.

First, they lost on national TV in the opener of the College Hoops Tip-Off marathon. Then they went 0-3 in the 76 Classic out in Anaheim, once again on national TV.

Today, the worst news of all.

Starting center Drew Gordon has left the team after six games. He will be transferring.

Drew Gordon never seemed to fit in well with Ben Howland's methodical style.
(photo credit: LIFE)

It was announced at Ben Howland's weekly news conference. The Fabulous Forum quoted him as saying "[t]his was not a spur-of-the-moment thing."

Howland and Gordon never really got on the same page. After losing to Villanova in the NCAA Tournament, Gordon had this to say:

In all honesty, I think he's going to have to change a couple of things. I think the mentality of the team next year is we don't work well in the half-court set. We're used to the run-and-gun. We're not programmed into slow-grinding it out there.

Is Ben Howland's conservative style of play wearing on his players?

The loss of Gordon, who was averaging 11.2 ppg and 5.3 rpg, is a crushing blow to UCLA. He was their best interior player and the only post presence with an elite level of strength and athleticism. The Bruins will be left with Nikola Dragovic, James Keefe, Anthony Stover, Reeves Nelson, and J'Mison Morgan inside.

Not exactly full of all-americans, now is it.

The worst news for UCLA fans is that the front line may not be the Bruins biggest problem.

They can't stop anyone. Their perimeter defenders cannot be the ball out of the paint. It has gotten so bad, that UCLA may end up playing zone.

Think about that. A Ben Howland team playing zone.

There will not be a lot good college basketball played in LA this year.